State Road 56 to close for chip seal operations in Jefferson County

Closed to thru traffic daily from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Thursday, weather permitting

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ind.— Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews plan to begin chip seal operations on State Road 56 in Jefferson County starting on or after Wednesday, May 15. Crews will be active on S.R. 56 between U.S. 421 in Madison and Old Indiana 56 near Brooksburg. 

As part of this work, S.R. 56 will close to thru traffic daily from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Thursday, weather permitting. Motorists should seek an alternate route while work is in progress. Access will be maintained for local residents.

Chip seal work typically lasts three to four days per location depending upon weather. During operations, existing pavement is coated with liquid asphalt, which seals cracks and provides waterproof protection. This extends the service life of the roadway and lowers maintenance costs. Once the seal coat is complete, loose aggregate is applied and swept from the road. After a curing period, crews will return to fog seal the new driving surface and apply pavement markings.

Chip seal is a cost-effective pavement preservation technique that is utilized across the state of Indiana, saving an estimated six to 14 dollars in taxpayer expenditures for every dollar invested in extending the life of a roadway.

INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, avoid distractions, and consider worker safety when traveling through active work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.